Adverse Effects

Immunotherapy is a hot topic in oncology, with hundreds of ongoing clinical trials. As more patients are treated with checkpoint inhibitors, nurses will play a key role in the management of these patients.

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer is increasing. Patients treated for these cancers with radiation and chemotherapy are at increased risk for early and late side effects that diminish their quality of life, and nurses play a key role in coaching patients about living with these side effects.

Real-world experience at The University of Texas MD. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, showed that the most frequent immune-related adverse events leading to emergency department visits for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors were diarrhea, colitis, pneumonitis, and dermatitis.

Awareness of the adverse effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors and how to manage them was the focus of several presentations at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 22nd Annual Conference.

Real-world experience at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, showed that the most frequent immune-related adverse events leading to emergency department visits for patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors were diarrhea, colitis, pneumonitis, and dermatitis.